NIGERIA EX-LEADER IN TALKS TO FREE SCHOOLGIRLS

LAGOS: Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo has met with people close to Boko Haram in an attempt to broker the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the militants, a source close to the talks told AFP. Reports of the talks emerged on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) as Boko Haram was blamed for fresh attacks targeting the security forces, public buildings and a school in its northeastern stronghold. Cameroon also said it had begun deploying 3,000 extra troops to buttress its border with Nigeria against the threat posed by marauding militants. On Monday evening, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, said the 223 girls still missing had been located but cast doubt on the prospect of any rescue by force.